Cellular fruit-shipping device



3EST AVAILABLE COP:

Nov. 2, 1926. 1,605,426

C. W. CALDWELL CELLULAR FRUIT SHIPPING DEVICE Filed Sept. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 '3EST AVAiLABLE COP\ Nov. 2 1926. 1,605,426

C. W. CALDWELL CELLULAR FRUIT SHIPPING DEVICE Filed Sept. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l L::+ J: A3 a (@Hwe/ BEST AVAILABLE COPY Patented Nov. 2, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CELLULAR FRUIT-SHIPPING DEVICE.

Application filed September 29, 1925. Serial No. 59,891.

The invention relates to shipping devices embodying cellular frames or fillers received in an outside container, the cells forming independent pockets for reception of the ob- 5 iects to be shipped. Devices of this character have been quite extensively used for shipping eggs and frangible articles of manufacture, and have also been employed to some extent for shipping fruit. There are many advantages for this latter use, yet the devices have never been extensively employed for this purpose, for such reasons as the following :They have been of such construction as to obscure the fruit and prevent inspection thereof by prospective purchasers, necessitating opening of the containers for such inspection; they have not provided adequately for the free circulation of air'around the individual pieces of fruit and in all .dir-ections throughout the entireqoutside container or crate; the cellular frames or fillers have required a relatively great amount of cardboard or the equivalent and have hence been rather expensive; and these frames have required special containers, whereas the only practical container for shipping fruit, such, as peaches, oranges, etc., is the usual slatted crate approved by all growers, packers and shippers of such fruits, and today universally used.

My invention was produced 'to overcome the difliculties heretofore encountered, and provides for the inexpensive and practical association of specially constructed cellular frames or fillers and perforated partition mats with the ordinary or standard slatted crates in such manner as to not only permit clear view of most of the containedfruit without opening the crate, but to also provide for effective circulation of air in all d1- rections around each piece of fruit to resist decay or spreading of decay, this circulation of air being particularly advantageous when shipping in the usual refrigerator cars, as well as when the crates of fruit are being held in cold storage plants as is now quite generally done. i The invention is hereinafter fullydescribed and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in the descriptive matter.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one of the units out of which the cellular frames are made.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of one of thecellular frames or fillers.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a crate fully packed with fruit and ready for the application of the cover, showing the attractive display of fruit when the cover is ele vated.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a packed crate, disclosing the manner in which large areas of the fruit are exposed and the crate is closed.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the crate with the cover and one of the cellular frames removed.

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

In the drawings above briefly described, C designates an ordinary fruit shipping crate which embodies solid ends 10, a slatted bottom 11, side walls formed of spaced slats 12, and a flexible cover 13 usually composed of one piece of thin wood. Disposed horizontally in the crate C, in superposed relation, are alternate cellular frames 14 and partitions or mats 15, formed of cardboard or the like, said partitions having ventilating openings 16 in communication with the cells of the frames 14. There is preferably one series of the frames and partitions filling one-half of the'crate and another similar series filling the other half thereof. If desired, the two series may be separated by one of the perforated partitions placed in an upright position between them.

Each frame or filler 14 is composed of a plurality of strips 17 transversely slotted as at 18 to receive portions of each other. Each of these strips includes a central longitudinal portion or member 19 of trivial width with regard to the diameter of the fruit to be contained in the cells, and upper and lower vertical portions or members 20 and 21 respectively, project from the edges of the central portion 19 at spaced points, said portions 20 and 21 being preferably of about.

the same width as said portion 19. These upper and lower vertical portions 20 and 21, jointly form vertical posts which are located at the vertical corners of the cells, the posts of-any frame 14 serving to effectively support the overlying partition mat 15. As shown in Fig. 1, the endsof the strips 17 have their upper and lower portions cut away to leave proiecting stops 17 The projections of these ends beyond the outside faces of the outermost strips 17 of the cellular frames provides air spaces between the frames and the inner faces of the side an 2 1,605,426 BEST AVAlLABLE COP end walle -of the erate as will be-notedeupom also insures the-utmost..circulation--of air in referenceito-Fig. .5. alLdirections around each--piece of fruit no Preferably, a corrugated mat M is .plafisd.. natter..inavhat position the crate may rest. on the crate bottom to yieldahly suppslrtrthe This is. of the.utmost.importance when soft fruit, this mat being perforated the same fruits such as peaches are held in cold as the partition mats 15 so thahthe-per-f storage andwwhenthey are shipped in rerations 01 openings 16 in ll sup rp e frigerator cars as is necessary in long dismats are in vertical alinementato facilitate etantashipments; The provision of at least the free circulation of air through the cells. four openings l5 in the partition mats let central, longitudinal 'P Ons-Lor for each cellfand the formation of the cell members 19 0f the-strips 17, rat the Q I Walls of very narrow central portions 19 Side$ each l fi s i' ute side memb IS-z-and narrowupright-portions 21, 21,- permits for said cell-,whmch-are of-a' vertical-wldth of the unobstructedcirculation of air greatly exceeded by the vertical dimension l ngth wise cross-wise and vertically of I' P QQ f h f i 3 throughout allof the cells and the entire Thus, evenf one -ofl1 p0rt1f0ns-1-9' 1 crate. Because-of this free circulation of posedoppositeone-of thespaces 22,711? il ;air, the-temperature throughout thecrate not obscure the fruit, but the latter may-be i k b if f ,sweat is rapidly. readily v dus 3 51 p 'i' fl evaporated and "decayis -resistedand-;its

those --existing above and- :below 'th'e' portion di is d 19 Usually, portions or members 190M119 i I Inadditionto having the-advantages sotwose M ng? Q fi P t n far. described, *it will j'be-seen that-the'-spe-- of fi. 19 9 22 b r t l ce t i cific construction "of the strips 17-, requires -p t s fi l g 7 P i,very-'littleimateri-al permitting the frames fi p i QQH 12 YY I T 14"t0 be inexpensively manufactured.

dsi' mp 'tt k I have for some time made "practicaluse p of ;.the'- invention; embodyin -the'-details yi a i y d in d, 9 iherein disclosed. Such details may -there-- visible, so that the-general "conditiontherenecessity-0f opening-the crate. I

On reference to Figs, 4 and-6' of the drawings -it will'be'noted thattheinteri'or depth of the; crate is slightly lessthan thepheigh'tm forezbe considered as preferred, but within the scope of the invention ,as claimed, slight variations may lee-made:

I claim:

0f t .Vertio l series p rp d- 1. Ajfruit crate filler consisting of a series or fill a d P rt i mats 8. at of narrow members anda second-series of I the fru llj P of t pp l "narrow members at right angles thereto,

m P l fi ig y above t PP both series being joined by vertical posts exdges of the'sideand'e d W 2 hfiifl er'tending in opposite directions from said he V6I'. eing Sllg y o dn narrow members whereby the latter are potened 0 9 the f i 'f h sitioned adjacentthe middle of the" congether with the particular shape -of the mi ed f it:- 1

strips l cOmP B h 1731 =P 7 1H ES 2. A cellular fruit shipping frame'coma superior display of fruit when-the crate i i g crossed stripsslotjtedt-o partly re- COVQIWIS lifted or removed since not onlyfl'ceivefleachother, each strip. comprising a the top but also all sides of-each pieceof' eentral longitudinal portion of trivial width rui inil e' p e most fr es canbe se 1.- with regard to the diameter of the piecesof This very at rac ive disp y. of, the fruit 'lfruit ,to-be' contained by the cells,-and narllO enhances th v lllei f the.) P k V "row vertical-portions branching from thea the ends of the cover 13' are nailedtothe" upperand lower edges of said central-popv end. walls of the ,crate; the bowing pffltlie" tion atlongitudin'ally =-spaced points-the cover in a lonqitudinal dirfiction as Seen-1n upper and lower branch portions of the- Fig; 4, will put tension upo n -thei-contents-'-'crossed strips-jointly forming- -vertically of the. crate, Which will prevent-shifting-of',lelongated 'partiti'on supporting :posts' disthe parts in transitand also take .care of" posed at the'fcorners of the cells and of a the ,slight shrinkage of the fruit; To pre-wheight at least equal to the diameter of-thevent mashing of thefifruit when-onecrate=-piecesoffruit tobe contained-by the cells. a is placed upon it another in refria'erat-ion plants or cars, cross stripsl ifias-shown--1n*use ina standard slatted fruit crate, comdotted linesin liigd, are naile' d on-theends jprisi-ng,alternaterellularframes and parti- 3. A fruit shipping and storing means for of t lie cover, 'these strips 'beingof greater-ytidn mats disposedhorizontally in super ia i 'jt a iih hei ht-h Lt ei'b ir t crossedstrips-slotted to partly -receive=.-and

ally; supportedlgrea'dily; examined iand -a itudinal portioinef *tiiy-iall width witheposed relation, said frames-c-0nsisting ;9f=

V I r improved fruit "holding mea n, sfn0t '5 interlock wi-th-each other to form individual r OHlyIli QYiQES @fitheflfrilitgbeinq f'l'n'd'lVld TFffifrult C6ll, each str p having acentral Ionto be contained in the individual cells and narrow vertical portions branching from the upper and lower edges, of said central portion at longitudinally spaced points, the upper and lower branch portions of the crossed strips jointly forming posts disposed at the corners of the cells for engagement with said mats, the latter having crossed rows of openings positioned at points be- BLE CO BES AVALA 3 tween said posts, whereby relatively large 1 passageways are formed through the crate for the free circulation of air length-wise, cross-wise and vertically in the individual cells around the fruit therein, for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto I aflixed my signature.

CHARLES W. GALDVVELL. 

